A great show on and off the field

Published: Wednesday, December 1, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, December 1, 2010 at 7:49 a.m.

In the NFL, the New Orleans Saints are in the midst of an impassioned defense of their Super Bowl championship.

In college football, the Nicholls State Colonels ended their season on a high note, and the LSU Tigers — after a year of surprises and drama — are waiting to see which bowl will invite them to participate.

On the local front, high-school football has ended after some incredible performances throughout the season.

This region boasted five playoff teams. Assumption, E.D. White, St. James, Terrebonne and Vandebilt all sent their teams into the postseason.

E.D. White, Terrebonne and Vandebilt won their first-round games, and E.D. White made it to the state quarterfinals before losing Friday to Parkview Baptist.

Although the local seasons ended on somewhat sour notes, all of these teams, as well as those that did not make the playoffs, have plenty of reasons to take pride in their feats.

Being a teenager is difficult enough by itself. High school, too, has its own set of challenges and requirements — not easy at all.

But these student-athletes voluntarily give up hundreds of hours to train, lift waits, run, study plays and watch film.

They do it because they have the determination and discipline it takes to accomplish team goals. And football is perhaps the quintessential team sport.

They know that much is required of them on the field, in the gym and in the classroom before they begin. Then, when all those things collide, they stick it out until the season is over.

It is impressive that they can sacrifice so much time and work so hard at such a young age.

For most, there will be no college football next year or the year after. No, most of them are on the fields on Friday nights simply because they love the sport and they have allegiance to their schools and their teams.

They aren’t there because of scholarships that make their educations free. And they aren’t there because of the paychecks that are showered on the pros.

They are there for the simple satisfaction that comes from seeing a job through to the end.

That satisfaction does not come cheaply. Along the way, there are disappointments and injuries and mistakes that might prey on their minds after the season.

But they should remember that they have accomplished a lot just by making it through the year.

<p>In the NFL, the New Orleans Saints are in the midst of an impassioned defense of their Super Bowl championship.</p><p>In college football, the Nicholls State Colonels ended their season on a high note, and the LSU Tigers — after a year of surprises and drama — are waiting to see which bowl will invite them to participate.</p><p>On the local front, high-school football has ended after some incredible performances throughout the season.</p><p>This region boasted five playoff teams. Assumption, E.D. White, St. James, Terrebonne and Vandebilt all sent their teams into the postseason.</p><p>E.D. White, Terrebonne and Vandebilt won their first-round games, and E.D. White made it to the state quarterfinals before losing Friday to Parkview Baptist.</p><p>Although the local seasons ended on somewhat sour notes, all of these teams, as well as those that did not make the playoffs, have plenty of reasons to take pride in their feats.</p><p>Being a teenager is difficult enough by itself. High school, too, has its own set of challenges and requirements — not easy at all.</p><p>But these student-athletes voluntarily give up hundreds of hours to train, lift waits, run, study plays and watch film.</p><p>They do it because they have the determination and discipline it takes to accomplish team goals. And football is perhaps the quintessential team sport.</p><p>They know that much is required of them on the field, in the gym and in the classroom before they begin. Then, when all those things collide, they stick it out until the season is over.</p><p>It is impressive that they can sacrifice so much time and work so hard at such a young age.</p><p>For most, there will be no college football next year or the year after. No, most of them are on the fields on Friday nights simply because they love the sport and they have allegiance to their schools and their teams.</p><p>They aren't there because of scholarships that make their educations free. And they aren't there because of the paychecks that are showered on the pros.</p><p>They are there for the simple satisfaction that comes from seeing a job through to the end.</p><p>That satisfaction does not come cheaply. Along the way, there are disappointments and injuries and mistakes that might prey on their minds after the season.</p><p>But they should remember that they have accomplished a lot just by making it through the year.</p><p>Congratulations to all our local teams.</p><p>Editorials represent the opinions of</p><p>the newspaper, not of any individual.</p>